Research & Publications

Plasmonic photochemistry

Metallic nanoparticles act as nanoscale antennas that amplify and concentrate light in their vicinity. Our research group specializes in harnessing these unique optical properties to enhance and control photochemical processes. To achieve this, we engineer innovative metallic nanoparticle hybrid systems and investigate how their structure, composition, and plasmonic behavior influence light-driven reactivity. We then apply these nanomaterials toward photochemical and antimicrobial applications.

Singlet Oxygen

Singlet oxygen is an excited state of molecular oxygen generated through photosensitization. Due to its short lifetime and highly reactive nature, singlet oxygen acts locally at the site of production, making it an effective tool for targeted antimicrobial applications against pathogens ranging from viruses to bacteria. Our group is interested in harnessing singlet oxygen to address antimicrobial resistance through the development and optimization of new photosensitizers, as well as strategies to enhance singlet oxygen generation and efficacy.

Excited-state modulation

Our research group is interested in understanding and controlling excited-state pathways through unconventional approaches to triplet-state access. Using polymer-based systems, we investigate how polymer composition, thickness, and the incorporation of plasticizers or antiplasticizers influence excited-state behavior and relaxation processes. By establishing fundamental structure–property relationships, our goal is to develop design principles that enable the rational tuning of excited-state dynamics, reducing reliance on trial-and-error approaches in photochemical material design.

publications

[42] Thiol-reacting toluidine blue derivatives: Synthesis, photophysical properties and covalent conjugation with human serum albumin.

Mariño-Ocampo, N; Reyes, JS; Günther, G; Heyne, B; Fuentealba, D. (2022). Thiol-reacting toluidine blue derivatives: Synthesis, photophysical properties and covalent conjugation with human serum albumin. Dyes and Pigments. 201: 110225. The development of improved photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is still a current research need. In this sense, third-generation photosensitizers employ different delivery vehicles to improve tumoral cells selectivity over healthy

[41] Methylene blue in combination with sunlight as a low cost and effective disinfection method for coronavirus-contaminated PPE.

Vos, KA; Gordon, PMK; Heyne, B. (2022). Methylene blue in combination with sunlight as a low cost and effective disinfection method for coronavirus-contaminated PPE. American Journal of Infection Control. 50(8): 906-908. Using the Murine Hepatitis Virus (MHV) A59 coronavirus as a SARS-CoV-2 animal surrogate, we validated that methylene blue (MB) in combination with sunlight exposure is a robust, fast, and low-cost decontamination method for PPE that should be added to the too

[40] Photobleaching of Erythrosine B in Aqueous Environment Investigation Beyond pH.

Kravchenko, O*; Sutherland, TC; Heyne, B. (2022). Photobleaching of Erythrosine B in Aqueous Environment Investigation Beyond pH. Photochemistry and Photobiology. 98(1):49-56. In the scientific literature, the term aqueous environment is loosely employed as it encompasses a broad range of different buffering agents. While there is an increasing number of experimental evidence that point toward specific buffer effects extending far beyond pH, the impact of the chemical nature

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